With only a small number of children there the adults in
the Christmas morning service were turned to and asked what they got if they'd
already opened their presents. As I answered I had a decision to make whether
to give the correct title of the book I'd been given or use the name which some
of the older members of the congregation might be familiar with. So it was I
went with the latter and told them I got the Johnny Rotten autobiography. Thing
is the book isn't that Anger is an Energy: My Life Uncensored is the autobiography
of John Lydon and there is way more to that than the Sex Pistols and the Rotten persona.
The book is like the recent Morrissey Autobiography in
that after a fairly in-depth discussion of his early years there is plenty of
content relating to being let down by record companies and fellow band members
but there is more to it than that, and Lydon's is far the better of the two.
There is a fair amount of discussion of the Pistols, and
of course one would expect that. This is
Lydon telling it as he experienced it but with a clear awareness that Malcolm McLaren
is now dead. As you read the part focused around the mid-late 1970's it feels
like he is saying this is my side of the story but can we move on from that and
focus on PiL (Public Image Limited). The music of both and relationship with
other members of the two bands is central to the book.
He slips in odd comments about his relationship with and/
or view on certain other groups and celebrities too along with the odd bit of
social commentary. One interesting point he brings up on more than one occasion
is how he believes the history of that era has been miswritten in a way which
is largely misogynist. He had far more time for the punk bands which contained
a female voice (e.g The Slits) than those which he regarded as too socialist
and/ or following a formula (i.e. the Clash).
The book also clearly explains why he believes certain
drugs, such as heroin, should be avoided. Whilst standing against censorship he
is clearly not against boundaries or the importance of good education. The book
itself provides a sensible discussion of drugs which should act as a warning
about the dangers of them as well as the impact on creativity.
Another thread running through the book is the negative views
which Lydon has on religion. He addresses both formal religion and new age
spirituality and has no time for either. Whilst I disagree with his end
conclusion I think he makes some important points which are worth consideration.
He could be argued to be taking a fairly traditionally Marxist view regarding
the manipulative nature of religion and the way it lets people down. Yet it is
clear this negativity comes from observation and experience rather than an
ideological analysis. Personally, I would agree with him that organised
religion has often been manipulative and in some cases abusive yet that is not
what I believe the bible actually teaches. I would argue what he doesn't allow
for is the way in which whilst it might have been abused and corrupted by some it is that misuse which has been
wrong rather than the teachings it is based upon and the religion itself.
Also sprinkled in are various comments which underline
his commitment to inclusivity but also a desire to address some of the very
real problems which the UK is currently facing. He very intentionally talks of
the way he values the LGBT community, multi-culturalism and the white working
class culture from which he comes. Towards the end of the book he then speaks
out against health tourism and the surveillance culture. Yet he is clear and
explicit that he does not agree with UKIP and their vision of the future.
Whilst I didn't agree with everything he wrote this book
did make me think and question and that is and has always been the point about
Lydon and his words, whether spoken, written or sung.
It also made me smile and laugh at times too and that is
important. The biggest smile came as I read about the 2002 Chrystal Palace gig.
He writes, "Still, we flooded the place with all the alleged villains and hardcore
Sex Pistols fans Britain had to offer, and no trouble was had. We were friends
amongst each other." (p425)
The last part of that sums up much of what I remember
about that day. The Drop Kick Murphys were great and the crowd loved them.
There was a serious pit that day and then it dissipated as the Libertines came
on and I don't think I was alone in being seriously underwhelmed by them. Then came the Pistols and it was
one massive sing a-long party before we all squashed onto the trains going back
into London. Yes it was possibly pastiche and pantomime in places but in
amongst the fun it was still bringing the weirdo's and the freaks together with their subversive view of the world.
Punk did get incorporated just as Hebdige claimed but
within it all, as the book shows, Lydon has sought to maintain his own path.
So is it worth a read? Yes if you're a fan of Lydon in
whatever guise or if you are generally interested in popular culture. Yes too
if you want to be made to think quite deeply. Otherwise perhaps not. I've also
read Paul O'Grady's Still Standing (the third volume of his autobiography) this
Christmas and I have to say O'Grady was far the more entertaining read of the
two.
Anger
is an Energy: My Life Uncensored by John Lydon, (2014), Simon & Schuster.
ISBN 978-1-4711-3719-8
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